RTi to LSi conversion
HBombToo
Posts: 5,256
Over the past couple of years I have either rebuilt vintage Polks and converted RT's to RTi's just because I wanted to. I did not hear anything Earth shattering but it was fun and gave me something to do while soaking up a few suds in the evening. 
That said, there has been much talk about the RT and LS series speakers which got me thinking. Is it possible to take an 800i and retro LS components to have some sort of interim upgrade. If the cabinet geometry is close enough would I not benefit from the different speakers/crossovers in the cabinets. I'm just thinking out loud here but for me to just swap out my entire system is ludicrous and I could never get the go from the Wife, "Who is the real BOSS in the family!" she just lets me hang around a little in the evenings.
I think it would be a real interesting project in which I would be willing to swap every damn speaker, crossover or wire to accomplish just so say I did it. I'm sure it would never be as good as an LSi speaker in whole but if I could benifit audibly in some way I would do it. Hell, polk could sale an upgrade package for that and could stimulate a whole new product line for their existing customers.
HBomb may be nuts but this is a hobby. and why not anyway????
That said, there has been much talk about the RT and LS series speakers which got me thinking. Is it possible to take an 800i and retro LS components to have some sort of interim upgrade. If the cabinet geometry is close enough would I not benefit from the different speakers/crossovers in the cabinets. I'm just thinking out loud here but for me to just swap out my entire system is ludicrous and I could never get the go from the Wife, "Who is the real BOSS in the family!" she just lets me hang around a little in the evenings.
I think it would be a real interesting project in which I would be willing to swap every damn speaker, crossover or wire to accomplish just so say I did it. I'm sure it would never be as good as an LSi speaker in whole but if I could benifit audibly in some way I would do it. Hell, polk could sale an upgrade package for that and could stimulate a whole new product line for their existing customers.
HBomb may be nuts but this is a hobby.
and why not anyway???? ***WAREMTAE***
Post edited by RyanC_Masimo on
Comments
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I do agree that it would be a fun project if you weren't too dependent on or invested in the results (i.e. no big deal if they suck).
An average driver in a properly aligned enclosure can easily sound better than a 'better' driver in the wrong alignment. After reading many DIY sites and keeping up on various forums for the past few years, plus making speakers, I firmly believe that. I think back to the 4 or 5 pairs of speakers I built in high school and college, and wonder how much better they would have been had I crunched a few (or a few more) numbers. I'd be embarrassed to admit some of the things I did or failed to do due to my ignorance.
I think you'd most likely get better results if you started from scratch and researched and bought high-quality drivers and designed a crossover and cabinet for them. I think you'd get more personal fulfillment and gain a shitload of knowledge if you started from zero.
Just me opining, of course. -
Originally posted by burdette
I think you'd most likely get better results if you started from scratch and researched and bought high-quality drivers and designed a crossover and cabinet for them.
Just me opining, of course.
I want a DIY speaker that everyone can enjoy. I'm not a cabinet maker or "carpenter in any way" so that is the last step. If I can retro into an existing structure i save a few coins.
if moving from the 800i line to the LSi the tweeters and potentially the crossover must go. Russ told me so!
Evil Twin:D***WAREMTAE*** -
Hey, what do I know about networks.
I've got all the pencil drawings done on 1/2" plywood for the infinate baffle project, now I have to decide if I'm too drunk to make the cuts!
2x2 plywood for each, 2 x 5.25" FR driver from PE each (total 8 ohm in series) part no. 269-457. Plenty of 16/2 lamp cord, and heat shrink, and couple spring clip terminals.... I'll cross the Zobel bridge later, if they sound remotely listenable. (if they dont, look for a flea market special on some ugly speakers)
Ahh, eff it, its only plywood (and fingers), time to get the jigsaw out.
Cheers,
RoosterCheck your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service. -
don't worry....
i'd go ahead and at least finish cutting the donuts.
Evile Twin:eek:***WAREMTAE*** -
I guess I can speak from some experience here with my recent purchase of a pair of Polk LSi (Vifa) Ring Tweeters off of eBay. The key to the great sound from the LSi speakers lies heavily on the tweeter. It's the most natural sounding thing I've ever heard. When I dropped them into my ole' JBL's and moded the x-over they really sounded pretty damn good (reference was some LSi9's).
Rather then tearing up your speakers, you could just start a DIY project from PartsExpress. They have all the parts you need (even the cabinet) to build a great speaker that I would bet would sound as good as a pair of LSi7's. Check out the Project Nebula. Yes, the speakers are as ugly as hell, but you can chose your own finish rather than "truck bedliner" ewwww....
TonyDamn....8 lines...I've gotta put my sig on a diet now.... -
i am looking at a north creek set to make it is a 5.1 setup with matched main center and rears. it looks like just for parts caps and coils will cost about 100-150 a speaker.
most kits that cost 300-500 each for parts wil rival most speakers from 3500-10k. aslong as you get good design. now the finish can cost cheap to very expencive like the 10k speakers can get very exotic.
